Introduction – Discovery – How is it Made?
Hydrogen Peroxide and History – Hydrogen Peroxide and the Future
How does peroxide bleach hair?
It uses a very slightly alkaline hydrogen peroxide solution.Hydrogen peroxide oxidises the melanin pigment inside the hairs to a colourless substance; the alkali makes the hair more permeable to the H2O2 by softening the cuticle, so the peroxide can reach the melanin.Blonde hair became increasingly popular since this discovery, for example:
films: Platinum Blonde (1931), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Legally Blonde (2001)